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O’Malley seeks better trash cans, less litter

City Councilor Matt O’Malley filed an order to reduce litter and promote recycling last week.

O’Malley said he believes that the city needs to expand its use of public trash compactors and recycling bins, explore the use of cutting-edge receptacles, and reevaluate litter fines.

“I’ve been working with the City for a better schedule, predictive service, plus better technology,” he told the Gazette last week. “We’ve got to expand City initiatives [like Boston Shines] to year-round. We’ve got to figure out ways to pay for it,” he said, noting that Roslindale manages the feat.

“There is no excuse for littering, but it is a problem that continues to plague our city’s business districts and neighborhoods,” O’Malley said in a press release.

O’Malley said he began to explore the idea after a group of residents in Jamaica Plain, including Sarah Freeman and Michael Reiskind and JP’s Centre/South Main Streets, asked for his help addressing a litter problem in the neighborhood business districts.

Every member of the City Council signed on as a co-sponsor of the order.

O’Malley said he would like to see increased use of the BigBelly Solar trash compacting litter/recycling bins citywide. Currently, Boston has more than 550 of the receptacles which, according to the Department of Public Works, prevent trash from blowing into the streets, discourage the dumping of household trash, and save the city money because the bins can be emptied with fewer trips.